Open Space Forum

Following yesterday’s , the candidates laid out their thoughts on strengthening the economy, addressing youth unemployment, improving healthcare, upgrading education, and much more.

With all these promises now on the table—are you ?

Could historic grievances be the cause of the violent episodes in the current campaigns?

As part of our ongoing efforts to strengthen youth inclusion in governance and decision-making across West Nile, we convened a town hall dialogue in Maracha ahead of our upcoming mobile civic engagement drives.

We were honoured to be welcomed by the Executive Director of Olufe Rural Youth Development Strategies (CBO) and the Sub-County Chief and both expressed their genuine enthusiasm for a project centred on youth inclusion particularly in this election season, when young people are often targeted or lured into acts of violence.

A critical concern emerged during the dialogue where ommunity members noted that, in recent political rallies, some Boda Boda riders have been involved in instigating violence, often as a way of signalling that certain candidates are not welcome in the area. According to local experiences shared, these riders are allegedly offered fuel and alcohol to provoke disorder raising an important and uncomfortable question: to what end, and for whose benefit?

In response, today’s dialogue brought together Boda Boda association leaders, security representatives, and the riders themselves with the intention of emphasizing the importance of meaningful, peaceful youth participation in governance processes, and to encourage riders to serve as promoters of peace throughout the election period.

West Nile, here we are!

that youth participation in key governance spaces across West Nile is still far lower than it should be and many young people say they don’t have the right information or confidence to engage meaningfully?

Together with Faraja Africa Foundation & Advance Afrika we rolled out a three year project supported by In Uganda focused on enhancing youth inclusion in governance & decision making in districts of Koboko, Pakwach, Maracha & Yumbe.

To make this possible we’re engaging the youth of Koboko & Maracha through a series of mobile civic engagement drives taking the message of governance,accurate information & peaceful participation straight to the community especially as the country edges deeper into the election season.

Stay on the lookout for what unfolds

6️⃣1️⃣ days to Polling Day!

your vote isn’t a gift from anyone — it’s your right, and it carries real weight.

As we move closer to Polling Day, tune out the noise, the pressure, and the cynicism designed to make you believe your voice doesn’t matter.
Stay focused. Stay informed. Stay .

📅 64 days to polling day! 🗳️

As elections draw closer, the call for peace grows louder — but peace is not just a slogan, it’s a choice we make every day. 💭

We’d love to hear from you:
👉 What does peace during elections mean to you personally?

Share your thoughts in the comments and help us spread the message of calm, respect, and unity this election season. ✌🏾

Our research launched in March revealed a pressing reality: young people today get much of their information from social media—platforms that can inform, inspire, or mislead, sometimes even fueling violence.

Last week, during a peer-to-peer workshop, Zingo Zal Haruna Juma guided our peace ambassadors on using social media responsibly—promoting peaceful elections, encouraging youth participation, and spotting and curbing misinformation and disinformation.

We also explored how politicians across Africa have leveraged social media to engage young voters, learning from Kenya’s Uhuru Kenyatta (2013 & 2017), Nigeria’s Muhammadu Buhari (2015 & 2019), and Ghana’s Nana Akufo-Addo (2016 & 2020). Ugandan politicians are increasingly following suit—but at what cost, when online narratives can sometimes turn violent?

As social media use continues to rise, Zingo reminded participants to stay vigilant, protect themselves online, and use these platforms to foster peaceful participation in elections.

We’d love to hear from you: how can young people use social media to strengthen democracy rather than divide communities? Share your thoughts below!

What does a violence-free election look like?
A peaceful Uganda where every voice is heard and every vote counts.

Today, under the Strengthening Youth Civic Participation Project, we’re bringing together young people from Kampala, Mukono & Wakiso for a peer-to-peer workshop — empowering them with the skills, knowledge, and tools to serve as peace ambassadors within their communities.

Young people are and and together, we can promote peace before, during, and after elections. ✊🏽🇺🇬

Stay tuned for updates from the workshop!

📌 70 days to polling day
Let’s prepare, participate, and promote peace in every community.

We were glad to host Pearl Utuk from Africa Career Networks this afternoon, ahead of the Regional Leadership & Career Impact Summit happening this Wednesday and Thursday.

We look forward to participating in this long-awaited summit, which will focus on harnessing potential and unlocking career opportunities in East Africa.